A WORKER who made £106,000 by selling scrap metal belonging to the power station where he was employed has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Brian Paul Smith, 53, of Drax, pleaded guilty to selling metal belonging to Drax Power Station for his personal benefit.

Sobia Ahmed, prosecuting, told York Crown Court Smith’s responsibilities as facilities support manager included weighing scrap and arranging invoices with an external company, but between June 2010 and August 2011, he went directly to the company and asked for “cash in hand” payments.

He used the money to pay off £12,000 of credit cards and other debts, and to fund his day to day life, but not an “extravagant lifestyle”, the court heard.

Taryn Turner, for Smith, said her client was a family man whose wife and daughter were still supportive of him, and he had been “thoroughly humiliated” since he was found to have abused his position.

Mrs Turner said: “He is a broken man in this case and his family has been devastated by this.

“It is very surprising that a man of his age should fall victim, effectively, of his own stupidity, and appear before the court with an offence so serious as this.”

The court heard Smith had since found work and was sole carer for his 79-year-old mother, which judge Neil Clark told him was one reason for not issuing him with an immediate prison sentence.

The judge said: “This is an unusual case and you are an unusual man.

“You are a man who is normally held in high regard, and one of the effects of this is you have lost that reputation in the community.

“You were a man of good character, indeed exemplary good character.

“You did a lot of good things in the community; helped others with sports, helped your family and you were very highly regarded.

“Why should a man at 53 do something as stupid and wicked as this? The answer is you got yourself into debt.”

Smith was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 300 hours unpaid work.

A Drax Power spokesman said: “Theft of company property is a criminal offence and is not something we can ignore. Treating the offence with the seriousness it deserves means that we will be taking steps to recover the amount which was stolen.”